Hannah, who was barren, prayed to the LORD and asked: “if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid” (excerpted from 1 Samuel 1:11 KJV). In verse 19 of the same chapter we are told: “the LORD remembered her”.

It is troubling to me that becoming a pastor is more reliant on completing a seminary education than many years of faithfully following God. It seems to me that years of faithful obedience, through times of trial and testing, is a better teacher than years of study.

I came across this message, titled Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead on a website called Alethea in Heart, or Truth in Heart. First, I read the message. Then, I started reading it to my carpool. Finally, I just had to listen to it! I think that you will be blessed and challenged by this message.

The memory of that “adventure” came back to me when I was meditating on a scripture from the book of Jeremiah. He is God’s man on the earth and is prophesying against Israel and Judah. Both Israel and Judah had lost their way. They have drifted from the ways of God and are caught up in the ways of the world. Yet, God does not give up on them.